While he is currently on international duty with England at the World Cup in the United States, Elliot Anderson’s club future appears to have been settled behind the scenes.

Reports indicate that Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal with Manchester City for the highly-rated 23-year-old midfielder, with the transfer set to become a British record move worth around £130 million including add-ons. However, some sources suggest the final fee could be closer to £116 million.

Regardless of the exact figure, the deal represents a massive financial boost for Forest, who signed Anderson from Newcastle United for £35 million in 2024.

Anderson is now expected to complete his medical in the US. The timing is far from ideal with England preparing for their next group match against Panama, but the midfielder appears to be handling the situation calmly.

“Honestly, it’s quite simple. I’m just concentrating on the present moment and blocking everything else out,” he recently told reporters.

“I have a clear plan, and that is to perform for England. I’m making sure I’m in the best possible position to step over the line and deliver.”

Anderson’s mindset will certainly please Thomas Tuchel, with the midfielder quickly establishing himself as one of England’s key players.

It’s also becoming increasingly clear why Manchester City are so eager to bring him to the club. His quality, maturity, and performances have made him one of the most exciting talents in the game.

Widely viewed as a potential replacement for Bernardo Silva, Anderson is actually a very different kind of midfielder. However, his qualities alongside Rodri — assuming the Spaniard does not follow Silva to Real Madrid amid ongoing speculation — could give Manchester City one of the most difficult midfield partnerships to break down in the Premier League.

Both Anderson and Rodri offer attacking threat while also excelling in the defensive side of the game, making them a well-rounded and powerful combination.

During his last season with Forest, the England international featured in every league match and made 50 appearances across all competitions, starting 45 of them.

His total of 4,166 minutes on the pitch highlighted just how important he was to the team’s fight against relegation, with only Neco Williams and Nikola Milenkovic playing more minutes for the club.

Passing excellence

With 3,021 passes attempted, Anderson was comfortably ahead of every other player in the 2025/26 season. The gap becomes even clearer when compared with Nikola Milenkovic, whose 2,118 passes were the next-highest total, highlighting Anderson’s work rate and constant desire to influence the game.

At Manchester City, Rodri ranked as the third-most frequent passer, but even he fell short of Anderson’s numbers, completing 2,421 attempted passes. Bernardo Silva’s total of 2,632 was also below the Forest midfielder’s figure, although both City players recorded better completion rates — 90.67% and 90.54% respectively.

Anderson completed 2,599 passes, giving him a strong 86.03% completion rate. While Ibrahim Sangare slightly bettered that figure with an 87.37% success rate, his overall passing volume was far lower, with only 1,552 attempts — just over half of Anderson’s total.

Impressive all-round numbers

Anderson’s influence extended beyond his passing. After pushing forward, the 23-year-old attempted 95 crosses with a 27.37% success rate, the best figure among Forest players.

He was also the team’s main set-piece taker, delivering 110 corners — comfortably the most in the squad — and recorded a 25.91% accuracy rate, once again the highest among Forest’s players.

It should come as no surprise that Anderson’s 676 attempted one-on-one duels were another standout figure, making him one of the best performers in this area. His 55.47% success rate was only bettered by Milenkovic (65.54%), although Milenkovic attempted fewer than half as many duels, with just 296 compared to Anderson’s total.

His defensive impact was also clear through his 377 ball recoveries, a figure that comfortably led the Forest squad. Despite standing at only 5ft 10in, Anderson showed his physical strength by competing in 126 aerial duels and winning 74 of them, placing him among only five players at the club to surpass 100 headed battles.

A tackle success rate of 59.84% was another impressive contribution, even if it ranked lower compared to some teammates. His 127 tackle attempts were only narrowly behind Neco Williams’ 135, while the next closest player, Ibrahim Sangare, managed 85 — more than 40 fewer than the leading pair.

Anderson also recorded 53 interceptions, second only to Williams, while his four goals and five assists made him the fifth-highest contributor in Forest’s squad for goal involvement.

These numbers underline the profile of a midfielder capable of influencing every part of the game.

If he continues on this trajectory, Manchester City’s £130 million investment could eventually look like excellent value.

While Bernardo Silva has been a tireless and determined performer for Manchester City, combining his work ethic with the technical brilliance that remains one of the few areas where Anderson does not quite match him, the two midfielders are difficult to compare directly.

In a squad like City’s, where every player — whether a regular starter or a substitute — operates at the highest level, Anderson has the perfect environment to continue improving and reaching new heights.

He is also still around four to five years away from entering his prime, which makes his potential even more exciting. For those questioning whether such a huge investment will prove worthwhile, the signs already suggest they have their answer.